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Impact of fuel price on vehicle miles traveled (VMT): do the poor respond in the same way as the rich?

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  • Tingting Wang

  • Cynthia Chen

Abstract

The effects of fuel price on travel demand for different income groups reveal the choices and constraints they are faced with. The first purpose of this study is to understand these underlying choices and constraints by examining the variation of fuel price elasticity of vehicle miles travelled (VMT) across income groups. On the other hand, the rebound effect—increase in VMT as a result of improvement in fuel efficiency may offset the negative effect of fuel price on VMT. The second purpose of this study is to compare the relative magnitudes of the fuel price elasticity of VMT and the rebound effect. A system of structural equations with VMT and fuel efficiency (MPG, miles per gallon) as endogenous variables is estimated for households at different income levels from 2009 National Household Travel Survey. Higher income households show greater fuel price elasticity than lower income households. Fuel price elasticities are found to be −0.41 and −0.35 for the two highest income groups, while an elasticity of −0.24 for the lowest income group is identified. The rebound effect is found to be only significant for the lowest income households as 0.7. These findings suggest the potential ability of using fuel price as a tool to affect VMT. The study results also suggest possible negative consequences faced by lower income households given an increase in fuel price and call for more studies in this area. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Tingting Wang & Cynthia Chen, 2014. "Impact of fuel price on vehicle miles traveled (VMT): do the poor respond in the same way as the rich?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 91-105, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:41:y:2014:i:1:p:91-105
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-013-9478-1
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    6. Motamedi, Sina, 2016. "The Effect of Changes in Fuel Prices on the Use of Road Transportation in Ontario," 57th Transportation Research Forum (51st CTRF) Joint Conference, Toronto, Ontario, May 1-4, 2016 319275, Transportation Research Forum.
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    9. Inge van den Bijgaart & David Klenert & Linus Mattauch & Simona Sulikova, 2024. "Healthy climate, healthy bodies: Optimal fuel taxation and physical activity," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 91(361), pages 93-122, January.
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    11. Barla, Philippe & Herrmann, Markus & Ordas-Criado, Carlos & Miranda-Moreno, Luis F., 2015. "Are Gasoline Demand Elasticities Different across Cities?," Working Papers 208360, University of Laval, Center for Research on the Economics of the Environment, Agri-food, Transports and Energy (CREATE).
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    18. Dimitropoulos, Alexandros & Oueslati, Walid & Sintek, Christina, 2018. "The rebound effect in road transport: A meta-analysis of empirical studies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 163-179.

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